Rattlers' run ends at Division II Sweet 16

San Antonio Express-News

Updated 1:37 am, Wednesday, March 20, 2013

DENVER — Not even Moses Sundufu's unlikely 3-pointers were enough for St. Mary's this time.

Sundufu, the hero of the Heartland Conference tournament, drained consecutive 3-pointers to close a one-time 15-point deficit to four in the final 90 seconds Tuesday, but No. 3 Metro State proved to be too much for the No. 23 Rattlers in a 78-70 victory in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional.

Top-seeded Metro State punched its ticket to the Elite Eight, ending the second-seeded Rattlers' deepest run as a member of the NCAA.

Daryell Taylor led all scorers with 25 points for the Rattlers (23-8), earning All-Tournament honors. St. Mary's Kevin Kotzur, the South Central Region Player of the Year, had 21 points and 12 rebounds to join Taylor on the All-Tournament team at the Auraria Event Center. Demetrius Miller, who scored 19 for the Roadrunners (30-2), was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.